You’re Always Coming When I’m Going exhibits new artworks by Lina Wu, Anna Daliza, Saysah Yoroonatti and Irum. Presented in the Gale Gallery at York University from June 18 to June 22, 2022, this exhibition stands alongside and expands on the artworks and writing featured in the second issue of Silverfish’s publication. You’re Always Coming When I’m Going is a celebration of both the publication of Silverfish 002: Transition and the collaborations between these artists and writers.

Silverfish 002: Transition presents the fruits of the 2022 Silverfish Magazine workshop series: an eight-week program that aimed to provoke both artists’ and writers’ understandings of collaboration and reciprocity through creating new artwork and writin together. In dialogue with Silverfish 002: Transition, You’re Always Coming When I’m Going challenged these artists and writers to further reflect on thei artworks and writings with new visual interpretations.

In Gales Gallery, visitors are first confronted with in other words, Daliza’s sprawling commentary on loss and the passage of time as a point of transition and departure. With New Youtube Video, Irum collages pop culture and video art references to eatin and the weight of diet culture, visually expanding on their written text that framed bellies as a site of transition. Pulsing visuals interlace a meditating man’s belly jiggling serenely. Wu’s drawings pull the viewer into a seductive tableau of interiorities, with the haze of longing emanating from vellum prints Untitled_222_444 features Yoroonatti braiding the hair of a paper mache head sculpture. Reflecting on the history of enslaved African peoples, the artis delicately weaves rice through the sculpture’s cornrows, honouring this transformative praxis of Black resistance.

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I love the feeling of struggling into my tightest little polyester dress. I don’t care that it seems to make my sweat stains look a littl darker. I like that it sausages my body – the bodice corsets my waist and makes my flesh leak from both top and bottom like a delectable littl muffin. Will you be there tonight? It always seems like you’re coming when I’m going.

As I sink into the earth, the secret pushes me back towards the surface. The tiny bits of gravel converge to resist my drift. The junebug hum in the background, and I watch you stare intently past anyone’s gaze, at seemingly nothing at all.

There’s glamour in preening for no reason. I like to see my face change from plain to supernatural as I paint it. It doesn’t matter wher I’m heading. It still seems like you’re always coming when I’m going.

My turn arrives and I spew absolute bullshit. People are crying and the world spins nearly thirteen thousand and eight hundred meters. When I see you at a grocery store 5 years later, you tell me he could have never transitioned without my words. I guess that’s wh you’re always coming back when I can’t seem to get far enough away.

Every time I get ready to go out, I always seem to add another step. Another necklace, another layer of lipstick, an extra pair of underwear. Will I really ever be truly ready? Can you ever truly tell? Maybe one perfect day when I’m really dolled up and ready, we’ll meet in th middle. Until then, I’ll only ever catch you as you head in while I head out.

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